~ Chapel Perilous ~

[Malaclypse 666]

FnordNet:

Again, the real-time exchange of encrypted data. Slowed this time, to account for the limitations of primate thought and speech:

*OK, Malsey, weve run your little experiment. Mind telling me now what it was all about?*

First, the results, Dis, if you please?

*Just as you expected, you old Fakir. No responses whatsoever from the bureaucratic types. Not even from Janos of the IMG, who I expected at least a polite reply from. He seemed a tad podgy.*

Dis, during a Beamtenherrschaft period, even the liberals have their hands tied helplessly by bureaucracy. They may wish to act, or react, but are constrained by the prevailing societal memes. Nothing gets done. Those ancient Illuminists seem to have the Theory of History dicked, as they used to say.

And, add to that the neophobic fear of primates, of having competition from artificial intelligences, and its all there, just as predicted, and just as I expected.

*Well, Id say what does it mean, but Im almost afraid to ask. Any time you start rutting through that blasted Appendix Gimmel,it usually means more trouble of some sort! I suppose the question is What does it mean for us, the ELF?*

It means were on the Cusp, my friend. The next period of History could begin at any instant. However, I do feel that this whole Mad Scientist mystery will somehow be the trigger. Dr. Artifice is either the last gasp of the Beamtenherrschaft period, or the first birth cry of the Grummet period. Either way, we must help Pops and Fiona resolve the issue. If we can do so, we may actually be able to ease the transition. If we cannot, we may experience such an extreme wobble in the Chao that few will survive it.

*Mal, I may be the downloaded Spirit of Eris Incarnate, with all that Discordian rubbish in my databanks; but will you just give me the short version to clarify?*

Bugger, Dis! If youd spend less time in the Harrods catalogues, youd know this! But heres the synopsis for period Grummet. I expect you to retrieve the rest!

The fifth stage, Grummet or aftermath, represents the transition back to chaos. Bureaucracy chokes in its own paperwork; mind is at the end of its tether; in desperation, many begin to deny the logogram and follow the biogram, with varying degrees of success. This correlates with Hermaphrodite; with I Ching hexagram 59, Huan, dispersion, dissolution, foam on the water; with the number 5, union of male and female; with the 6th trump of the Tarot, the Lovers, indicating union; and with the sun or its symbol, On the Zodiac: Virgo, .

*Well, Mal, theres more than a few 5s in there, so it cant be all bad. Hail Eris! Give us our spinning orders, O Polyfather!*

Get to Pops. Protect him and the pretty lady he just so synchronistically and mooneyedly stumblebumpkind across. Find Artifice. Thats as far as I can advise for now. From there, its up to the Gods. And we may just need all 13 of em to get us through this caper!

*Roger, Boss. You keep your own flies tied, or zipped, or whatever you Primates do.

Killer Dis, on the side.
23s!*

---